John Thorstensen

John “Jack” Robert Thorstensen passed away peacefully on April 19, 2024 at 95 years of age after a short illness. He was a well-loved man of deep and quiet faith. He was born in Milwaukee, WI on Nov. 25, 1928.
Jack received an engineering degree from the University of Marquette, and worked for the City of Milwaukee where he met the love of his life, Louine “Lou” Ruth Peterson (born 1930, died May 11, 2023) of Clintonville, Wisconsin. At about the same time, he felt the calling to be a minister in the Lutheran Church and attended Lutheran Theological Seminary in Minneapolis.
After graduating the seminary in 1958, Jack, along with Lou, served at First Lutheran Church in Hunter, ND, Hope Lutheran Church in Minneota and Grace Lutheran Church in Fairmont, MN. After Jack’s retirement in 1993, Jack and Lou lived in Bella Vista, AK, before moving to Denver to be closer to their daughter Sonja, son Peder and the Rocky Mountains.
They were active in the Lord of the Valley Lutheran Church in Winter Park Colorado and Bethany Lutheran Church in Denver Colorado. Jack and Lou enjoyed traveling, camping, the great outdoors, socializing with friends and their many grandchildren.
Jack lived 343 days without his beloved Lou and is happy to be with her again in heaven. They are survived by daughters Greta Olson of Fairmont, MN, Sonja Berdahl (Paul) of Castle Rock, CO, and Kari Thorstensen (Joel Hinman) of New York City and son Peder Thorstensen (Pam) of Berthoud, CO, nine grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held at Grace Lutheran Church in Fairmont, MN on Saturday, May 18 at 1 p.m., with a visitation starting one hour before the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider making a gift in Jack’s memory to the Elmer Welz and Pastor John Thorstensen Hope Education Fund, Hope Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 87, Minneota, MN 56264.